The Association of Personal Assistants is the national focus for all issues important to practicing, professional Personal and Virtual Assistants (PAs). It offers tips and techniques to improve the support they give to their principal and ensures they continually develop new skills, expertise and share experiences with like-minded people employed as PAs.

But APA is not just another helpful website, it is also a professional body; a company limited by guarantee (not-for-profit) with the sole purpose of representing the needs of PAs; ensuring their role in modern business is recognised and rewarded as an essential and influential one, that PAs are seen as conduits not gatekeepers and that a full package of essential services are available to them for business and personal benefit:

	is the voice of the PA profession; speaking to those who influence the way we do business.
	is the eyes of the PA profession; watching news from Government, the Unions and all who influence the business environment to ensure the PA knows what’s going on in the world that might influence the performance of his or her business.
	is the strength of the PA profession; creating environments to share best practice, learn from others and develop new skills for the benefit of you and your business.
	is the heart of the PA profession; looking to provide intellectual stimulation, fun and advantage to PAs.

Membership of APA brings you status, recognition and reward.

Gareth Osborne, Director General, APA, presenting Carly Beales
with her APA Certificate

What does membership cost?

Membership of The Association of Personal Assistants costs, on average, little more than £1 per week, about the same as a weekly magazine, but with APA you gain access to a wealth of information essential for the effective support of your principal and the business. It can be claimed as a legitimate business expense and is even tax deductible.

We have three grades of annual membership fee; Associate (£45 pa), Member (£55 pa) and Fellow (£100 pa) and application for each requires proof of your employment history and experience as a PA, which is why we ask you to provide us with the latest copy of your CV. On initial application we charge a registration fee of £25, but if you have been recommended by an existing member or your principal is a member of an approved membership organisation, this may be reduced.

Corporate Membership scheme

The Association of Personal Assistants recognises that many employers encourage membership to professional associations, therefore, we have a Corporate Membership scheme in place for companies with 24 or more PAs. Please click here for more information.

So what do I actually get for the investment?

	Empowerment; APA gives you access to a whole new world of relevant, focussed and topical information and professional understanding; to allow you to be better prepared for the challenges of the role of a Personal Assistant.
	Use of the designatory letters AAPA, MAPA, or FAPA after your name; to identify your commitment to professional standards.
	Use of the APA brand and logo on stationery and business cards; to show others you are at the top of your game.
	The APA lapel pin; to distinguish you as a member to others.
	Your certificate of membership; to display proudly in your office.
	Use of the APA Code of Professional Practice; to demonstrate your professionalism to employers and clients.
	Access to APA logo stickers; to personalise important documents.
	The opportunity to participate. You might want to become a director of APA, a regional director or a local group member; to help shape the profession of the future and have your say in how the professional body develops.
	Resources in the member's area; to allow other members to access you and vica versa when they want to do business or network.
	Contacts at the highest level of UK business; to help you locate the PAs of people your principal might want to access.
	Access to the APA website 'Members Only' area; to expose you to a host of tips and useful information to help support your principal and the business.
	Access to benefit partners offering significant advantage to you and your business; for example our national stationery provider that guarantees to offer all members discounts usually reserved for the biggest stationery consumers, no matter the size of your business.
	Access to the APA forum; through which you can source answers to problems, challenge your peers and share experiences for the good of the profession.
	APA regular e-news; to keep you up to date with changes in the UK business arena, including snippets of information that your principal may have missed and could prove invaluable.
	Access to specialist advice; useful in the preparation of processes and protocols for the effective operation of your office and the business as a whole.
	Information on APA approved training providers; to ensure you have access to continuing professional development.
	National and regional events; we stage regular meetings and seminars, nationally and in your local area, to allow PAs to meet each other and hear useful presentations on services that may be advantageous to their business.
	And much, much more - APA intends to grow by listening to members and providing services that best suit their needs. Join now and have your say. ...JOIN APA

Who's who at The Association of Personal Assistants?

The following individuals are Directors of The Association of Personal Assistants.

	Gareth Osborne - Director General - info
	Colin Minto - Technology Director - info
	Carly Beales - Non Executive Director (Fellow) - info
	Faye Crisp - Non Executive Director (Fellow) - info